Wills Index

Using the Wills Index

You can search this index of over 38,000 entries to see what Archdeaconry of Berkshire wills, administrations and inventories we have for the period 1480 to 1857.

Let's explain the difference between these records.

Wills: this is the most common record in which an individual sets out their intentions as to what should happen to their possessions after death and to appoint executors.

Administrations (admons): If a person died without making a will (intestate), the court had to appoint people to administer the estate and issued letters of administration. The appointed persons would then enter an administration bond to carry out various tasks. However, they do not reveal anything about actual possessions unless an inventory is included.

Inventories: This was made as a true record of the extent and value of the deceased’s estate and often included debts as well as possessions.

It's also worth noting that sometimes, all that survives is a registered copy of a probate record, which is a hand written version in a bound volume.

How to use the wills index:

The index is listed by surname, but also provides details of place name and occupation as well the document reference of the record and what microfilm/fiche (MF) copies we have.

To use the Name Search simply enter the name as surname, first name. For example: Blackmore, Dennis.

You can also search by surname only or first name only.

For place names or occupations please use the Keyword Search.

If you would like to look at or order copies of any of the records listed, please Contact Us.

Name Search

Keyword Search

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
Name Place Name Occupation Year BRO Ref MF Copy
BRYANNE, MargaretMarcham1593D/A1/41/035 D/A1/12/101MF462 MF10048
BRYANT, ElizabethFernham, Shrivenham1670D/A1/178/125MF96015
BRYANT, JohnNewburyFuller1580D/A1/40/092 D/A1/10/265MF462 MF10047A
BRYANT, WilliamFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1620D/A1/43/040MF464
BRYANT, WilliamFernham, ShrivenhamYeoman1672D/A1/178/134MF96015
BRYANT, WilliamReadingCarpenter1723D/A1/49/69MF468
BRYGATE, JohnReading St Laurence1521D/A1/1/134MF10042
BRYGHTWELL, RichardBarkham1564D/A1/39/201 D/A1/8/329MF462 MF10043C
BRYGTWELL, RichardPadworth1541D/A1/2/091MF604
BRYNDYE, JoanWatchfield, Shrivenham1610D/A1/42/062 D/A1/15/110MF463 MF10065
BRYNKELO, JohnInglewood, Goldyngfyld, Kintbury1558D/A1/39/129 D/A1/7/311MF461 MF10040
BRYNKLOW, SibylReading1545D/A1/233/026MF96132
BRYNKLOWE, SibylReading St Laurence1542D/A1/1/110MF10041
BRYNKLOWE, SibylReading St Laurence1545D/A1/2/057MF603
BRYNNE, AdrianWatchfield, ShrivenhamHusbandman1563D/A1/39/212MF462
BRYT, ConsterNewburyBroad Weaver1629D/A1/43/190MF464
BRYT, JohnShrivenham1521D/A1/1/054MF10041
BUCH, Henry SnrWest HanneyYeoman1678D/A1/47/30MF466
BUCHELL, ThomasTilehurstWheeler1685D/A1/179/45MF96016
BUCHER, RobertAldermastonYeoman1702D/A1/48/103/1MF467
BUCK , ThomasNewbury1633D/A1/177/045MF96013
BUCK, HannahWelford1752D/A1/50/49MF469
BUCK, JoanWelford1709D/A1/48/167MF467
BUCK, Robert JnrWelfordYeoman1632D/A1/44/024MF464
BUCK, ThomasNewburyMiller1633D/A1/168/256MF96001
BUCK, ThomasMaidenheadCarpenter1721D/A1/180/62MF96019
BUCK, WilliamWelfordMiller, Yeoman1707D/A1/48/144MF467
BUCK, WilliamWelford1708D/A1/179/181MF96018
BUCK, WilliamEaston, WelfordHusbandman1755D/A1/50/67MF469
BUCKAREDGE, AgnesBasildon1576D/A1/40/052 D/A1/10/088MF462 MF10047A
BUCKARIDG, RichardPangbourneYeoman1617D/A1/43/007/2MF464
BUCKE, JohnAston TirroldHusbandman1551D/A1/5/131MF10043A
BUCKE, JohnAston TirroldHusbandman1551D/A1/4/017MF604
BUCKE, JohnAston Tirrold1551D/A1/233/335MF96132
BUCKE, WilliamWest Shefford1559D/A1/39/148 D/A1/7/271MF461 MF10040
BUCKELL, WilliamOld WindsorFletcher1622D/A1/43/078MF464
BUCKENER, ThomasWhitley, CumnorYeoman1587D/A1/40/153 D/A1/11/120MF462 MF10047B
BUCKEREDGE, JoanAshampstead1552D/A1/5/162MF10043A
BUCKEREYGE, JoanHartridge Court, Ashampstead1552D/A1/4/019MF604
BUCKERIDGE, AgnesPangbourne1599D/A1/175/161MF96010
BUCKERIDGE, AgnesPangbourne1599D/A1/13/431MF10049
BUCKERIDGE, EdwardPangbourneHusbandman1630D/A1/44/002MF464
BUCKERIDGE, ElizabethChaddleworth1718D/A1/49/18MF468
BUCKERIDGE, ElizabethNewbury1741D/A1/49/237MF468
BUCKERIDGE, FrancesCompton1606D/A1/175/193MF96011
BUCKERIDGE, FrancisComptonYeoman1605D/A1/168/001MF96001
BUCKERIDGE, GeorgePangbourne1643D/A1/44/168MF465
BUCKERIDGE, GeorgeSwallowfieldBrewer1695D/A1/169/11MF96002
BUCKERIDGE, IsaacThatcham1805D/A1/145/19MF557
BUCKERIDGE, IsaacChieveleyYeoman1847D/A1/226/124MF96123
BUCKERIDGE, JoanPangbourne1591D/A1/41/013 D/A1/11/387MF462 MF10047B
BUCKERIDGE, JohnHartridge, Ashampstead1561D/A1/39/167 D/A1/6/205MF461 MF10043B
BUCKERIDGE, JohnBasildonYeoman1574D/A1/40/034 D/A1/9/424MF462 MF10046
BUCKERIDGE, JohnBasildonYeoman1591D/A1/41/006 D/A1/11/307MF462 MF10047B
BUCKERIDGE, JohnBagnor, Speen1705D/A1/179/155MF96017
BUCKERIDGE, JohnBagnor, SpeenYeoman1709D/A1/179/188MF96018
BUCKERIDGE, RichardPangbourneWheeler1709D/A1/48/156MF467
BUCKERIDGE, Sarah Eliz RogerSpeen1841D/A1/146/63MF557
BUCKERIDGE, SimonAshampsteadHusbandman1612D/A1/176/041MF96012
BUCKERIDGE, SimonAshampstead1612D/A1/168/083MF96001
BUCKERIDGE, ThomasPangbourneYeoman1607D/A1/14/306MF10064
BUCKERIDGE, WilliamEnborneYeoman1713D/A1/180/17MF96019
BUCKERIDGE, WilliamHampstead NorreysLabourer1736D/A1/49/183MF468
BUCKERIG, WilliamChaddleworthHusbandman1667D/A1/178/101 MF96015
BUCKERRIDG, JohnPangbourneHusbandman1709D/A1/48/166MF467
BUCKERYDGE, WilliamWest Ilsley1578D/A1/40/075 D/A1/10/152MF462 MF10047A
BUCKERYGE, ThomasPangbourne1554D/A1/39/066 D/A1/7/030MF461 MF10040
BUCKINGAM, ChristianWest Hanney, Hanney1628D/A1/43/175MF464
BUCKINGAME, JohnCumnorLabourer1584D/A1/40/119 D/A1/10/427MF462 MF10047A
BUCKINGHAM, JohnRadleyYeoman1674D/A1/128/100MF548
BUCKINGHAM, ThomasWest Hanney, HanneyHusbandman1626D/A1/176/113MF96012
BUCKLAND, AnnWallingford1725D/A1/49/90MF468
BUCKLAND, AnthonyAldermastonMaltster1768D/A1/180/222MF96020
BUCKLAND, ElizabethReading1822D/A1/145/111MF557
BUCKLAND, JohnBasildonYeoman1727D/A1/180/97MF96019
BUCKLE, AnneSutton Courtenay1758D/A1/180/203MF96020
BUCKLE, EmmaUfton Nervet1586D/A1/175/105MF96010
BUCKLE, JeanTidmarsh1691D/A1/47/163MF467
BUCKLE, JohnSparsholtDay Labourer1728D/A1/49/114MF468
BUCKLE, John SnrTidmarsh1675D/A1/46/117MF466
BUCKLE, MatthewUfton NervetYeoman1686D/A1/47/113MF466
BUCKLE, NicholasStratfield Mortimer1603D/A1/175/177 D/A1/13/1019MF96011 MF10049
BUCKLE, NicholasDidcotHusbandman1606D/A1/42/005 D/A1/14/238MF463 MF10064
BUCKLE, RichardSteventonYeoman1837D/A1/146/31MF557
BUCKLE, SimonSutton Courtenay1768D/A1/50/118MF469
BUCKLE, WilliamSutton CourtenayPaper Maker1727D/A1/180/95MF96019
BUCKLEN, WilliamPadworthCordwainer1704D/A1/48/120MF467
BUCKLER, JohnClewerCloth Worker1601D/A1/41/152 D/A1/13/674MF463 MF10049
BUCKLEY, AgnesBray1602D/A1/41/160 D/A1/13/808MF463 MF10049
BUCKLEY, MichaelTidmarshHusbandman1634D/A1/177/049MF96013
BUCKNER, AnthonyCumnorHusbandman1643D/A1/178/011MF96015
BUCKNER, DorothyCumnor1586D/A1/40/138 D/A1/11/093MF462 MF10047B
BUCKNER, DorothyWhitley, Cumnor1598D/A1/41/116 D/A1/13/292MF463 MF10049
BUCKNER, EdwardPuseyYeoman1645D/A1/178/022MF96015
BUCKNER, JamesEast LockingeCarpenter1822D/A1/145/107MF557
BUCKNER, JamesReadingVictualler1839D/A1/226/102MF96123
BUCKNER, JohnWytham1557D/A1/175/026/2MF96010
BUCKNER, JohnChawley, Cumnor1599D/A1/41/125 D/A1/13/495MF463 MF10049
BUCKNER, JohnBotley, CumnorYeoman1609D/A1/42/042 D/A1/14/496MF463 MF10064
BUCKNER, JohnChawley, CumnorYeoman1686D/A1/47/112MF466